Sean Jackson is a sixteen-year-old growing up in a small lakeside resort town in New Hampshire. The summer before his junior year is just beginning, and he looks forward to relaxing weeks. Shocked when his father, who moved south after his parents' divorce, finds him a job in Georgia, he quickly grabs the only option that will allow him to stay home, working in the local ice cream parlor.
Sean has a girlfriend who is spending the summer away at camp. He's not too sorry to have some time apart, and we quickly learn that this is due to his growing attraction to other young men. The story unfolds from there, providing the reader with a wonderful book about romance, coming of age, the challenges of being gay (even in the 21st Century), friendship, and family.
Timothy Woodward has crafted a fast-paced, very enjoyable book. The characters are well written -- especially Sean's new friend Becky -- and the setting is quickly established and provides a nice backdrop. Sean is a very believable sixteen-year-old, with some of the biggest plot complications arising from his emotional turmoil and immaturity.
Despite those moments -- perhaps because of them -- his journey is very compelling. Thanks to Becky, a wise-cracking visitor from New York, and his first romance, Sean learns to be more accepting of who he is and how to deal with friends and family more honestly.
The story is hardly original, with many tropes of summer reading, young adult romance, and coming of age novels moving the plot along. Woodward crafts compelling characters, however, and keeps things moving nicely. This keeps the occasional heard-it-before moment from being a nuisance. There are enough surprises to make the journey interesting, and while things wrap up neatly, it isn't a perfect package, making the resolution satisfying and believable.
The weakest part of the book is the prologue, which sets up one of the two climaxes in the action before we even get to know the players. Given the straight chronological narrative, placing that chapter in place would have worked much better.
Overall, a delightful read, well written, and worth the time. If you are a fan of young adult fiction, looking for a good LGBT coming of age story, or just a fan of good summer romances, this book is for you. Four stars out of five.
You can find If I Told You So at your local library or order it (book or Kindle) from Amazon; other options are available via GoodReads.
Comments